Belgium winger Jeremy Doku at centre of World Cup storm after plan to miss matches for birth of first child

A father-to-be’s decision to put family before football has sparked a fierce backlash — and a reported suspension for a French TV presenter who branded the plan “disgraceful”. Jeremy Doku, the 24-year-old Manchester City winger, has said he will leave Belgium’s World Cup camp to be with his wife Shireen for the birth of their first child, even if the Red Devils reach the quarter-finals. “Nobody wants to miss the birth of their first child,” he told Reuters. “I know the federation supports its players.” The comments drew an astonishing outburst from France Pierron, a presenter on French sports channel L’Equipe. On the programme L’Equipe de Choc, she called the decision “disgraceful” and, in a message posted to L’Equipe’s Facebook page, described the birth as “a disgusting moment … where the dad is completely useless”. “There are hundreds of footballers who would kill to be in your shoes,” she wrote. The remarks sparked widespread anger online, with support for Doku flooding in — including from French Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Brahim Asloum, who wrote: “A baby is your entire life. A World Cup is over when it is over.” Pierron later issued a statement on her X page, apologising for any offence caused and saying she was “expressing a personal opinion within the context of a contentious exchange”. But according to French outlet Clement Garin, Pierron has now been suspended from presenting duty by L’Equipe ahead of Monday’s show. A tweet cited by the Mirror said the editorial team denounced the “hypocrisy” of management, which initially ordered the post not to be deleted before changing its tune as the backlash grew. Doku missed Belgium’s goalless draw with Iran on Sunday because of a chest infection. Rudi Garcia’s side sit second in Group G after a 1-1 draw with Egypt in their opener. Doku’s wife is due in the second week of July, the same period as the quarter-finals — a match he may now never play.